The Election Commission on Saturday revised the polling day for Haryana Assembly polls from October 1 to October 5, 2024. Additionally, the counting day for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana has been changed from October 4 to October 8, 2024. While BJP leaders expressed gratitude to the poll body for “facilitating” the request to change poll dates, Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda said it shows BJP has “accepted defeat”.
Politicians React to Change In Poll Dates
- On EC changing the date of counting of votes for Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana assembly elections, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said, “I want to thank the Election Commission for their decision… Our State President Mohanlal Kaushik wrote to the EC regarding a problem that there are consecutive holidays on September 29, 30 and October 1, 2. We expressed concern that this might affect the voting percentage. People might go on holidays or vacations. Other parties also expressed concern over this… I want to thank the Election Commission they considered this…”
- Former Haryana Minister Anil Vij also expressed gratitude to the election commission for “revising facilitating and encouraging more people to come out to vote”.
- Congress leader and former Haryana CM Bhupinder Hooda said the change in polling dates reflects BJP’s acceptance of an impending electoral defeat.”It is the Election Commission’s right, they have extended the date. They (BJP) have already accepted defeat in Haryana. When the Haryana government wrote a letter to the Election Commission, I had said at that time that the BJP had accepted defeat,” Hooda said
In a notification, the poll panel said, “Subsequently, representations have been received from National Political Parties, State Political Party and All India Bishnoi Mahasabha regarding mass movement of people of Bishnoi community of Haryana to Rajasthan to participate in centuries old Asoj Amavasya festival celebration in remembrance of their Guru Jambeshwar.”
“It may deny voting rights to large number of people and may lead to reduce voters’ participation in general election to legislative assembly of Haryana,” the poll body notification said.
The Haryana BJP had earlier written to the Election Commission, seeking a postponement of the Assembly polls on October 1 to another date, citing holidays before and after October 1.
Haryana BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli, in his letter to the Election Commission, had said people tend to go on vacation in the week before and after October 1 and could impact the voter percentage. He had asked the poll body to fix a new date.
The Election Commission, earlier, on August 16 announced that Assembly polls in Haryana would be held in a single phase on October 1 and the results would be declared on October 4.
Counting For J&K Polls On October 8
Meanwhile, the voting for the legislative assembly in Jammu and Kashmir assembly will be held in three phases. As per the announcement, the voters in Jammu and Kashmir will cast their votes on 18 September, 25 September, and third phase would take place on 1 October.
There has been no change in the polling date for the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir elections, which is set to be held on October 1. The election results for Jammu and Kashmir will be declared on October 8.
The election body has directed the enforcement agencies to be impartial and transparent for a smooth and fair polling ensuring a level-playing field, the CEC said.
Comments
0 comment